Terror Attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star: Three More Accused Remanded in Custody

The legal proceedings surrounding the violent attacks on the offices of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, have advanced further, with three additional accused sent to prison on Wednesday. The cases relate to incidents involving arson, large-scale vandalism, and looting at the two media houses—attacks that have raised serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in the country.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque issued separate remand orders following hearings held at her court. With this latest development, the total number of individuals remanded in custody has risen to 19 in the Prothom Alo case and 10 in the Daily Star case.

The three accused sent to jail on Wednesday are Jakir Hossain Shanto (29) from Mymensingh, Niaz Mahmud Farhan (21) from Bhola, and Azmir Hossain Akash (27). Of the three, Akash has been shown as arrested in connection with the attack on The Daily Star. Court sources confirmed that the accused were brought to the court lock-up around 6:00 pm and produced before the magistrate shortly before 7:00 pm.

Investigating officers sought their continued detention, arguing that custodial confinement was necessary for the ongoing investigation. Although bail petitions were submitted on behalf of two accused in the Prothom Alo case, the court rejected the pleas and ordered all three to be sent to prison.

Case Details: Prothom Alo :

A case was filed at Tejgaon Police Station shortly after midnight on 21 December, naming between 400 and 500 unidentified individuals as accused. The charges were brought under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Special Powers Act, and the Cyber Security Ordinance.

According to the case statement, the attackers unlawfully entered the Prothom Alo premises, instigated riots, carried out extensive looting, and set fire to parts of the building with alleged intent to cause loss of life. Additional accusations include intimidation, destruction of evidence, attempts to halt newspaper publication, sabotage of office operations, and incitement to criminal activities online.

The statement of claim estimates that looted property alone was worth approximately BDT 2.5 crore, while total preliminary damages amount to around BDT 32 crore. CCTV footage from the premises, along with video evidence from various media outlets, has been cited as key evidence in the investigation.

Case Details: The Daily Star :

In a separate case, The Daily Star’s Head of Operations, Md Mizanur Rahman, filed a complaint at Tejgaon Police Station on 22 December, accusing 350 to 400 unidentified individuals.

The complaint alleges that around 12:35 am on 18 December, a group armed with sticks and flammable materials entered the building while chanting provocative slogans. The attackers physically assaulted staff members, looted cash and equipment, set fire to multiple floors, and destroyed critical infrastructure including fire safety systems and CCTV cameras.

Summary of Reported Damages

During the attack on The Daily Star, 30 employees were rescued from the building. Due to the extensive damage, the newspaper was forced to suspend its print edition the following day, while online operations remained offline for nearly 17 hours.

As investigations continue, these incidents remain a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by media institutions. The progress of the judicial process is being closely watched by civil society, journalists, and international observers alike, as questions of accountability, rule of law, and the protection of free expression remain firmly in focus.